Thank you Kirsty, thank you Todd, thank you Isabelle. Thank you for being here, hello my dear friends, and thank you for making the trip all the way to Parliament Hill to attend the celebrations. I will be brief. I would just like to say a few words about the men and women who are here and the impact you have on our country. The Olympic and Paralympic Games have always been exciting events for Canada because our athletes are among the most talented in the world.

The Games give humble Canada a chance to show off a bit, a chance to show some, yes… Swagger.

And this time around, in PeoChang, did you ever show it: 29 Olympic medals, 28 Paralympic medals, the incredible leadership of Mark Arendz, and enough Tessa and Scott memes to last a lifetime. Canadians came together in February and March, putting aside our deep-seated hockey city rivalries, to cheer on one team. Our team… Team Canada!

And that’s the incredible power of sport, and specifically the Olympics and Paralympics. You train for years to perform at the very highest level, and I know that it’s not just about personal bests, it’s really about representing all the folks back home, and uniting our communities with a common pride. Because of your drive, Canadian kids can dream of being the next Alex Goff or Brian McKeever. And that’s a pretty special, pretty awesome impact of what you all do. So thank you for pushing yourselves. Thank you for the late nights of grueling training, the tough diets, and all the time you have to spend away from your families. I know it’s not easy, but who you are, and what you represent, means so much to all of us.

Thanks for being here today, and enjoy this well-deserved day. And most especially, keep up the excellent work you’re doing putting what’s best about Canada front and centre. Keep contributing, working hard and, most of all, succeeding the way each and every one of you succeeds. Thank you, everyone, thank you so much.

Go Canada, go!